Emirates Post, Labour Ministry tie-up proves fruitful

Emirates Post carried out a record number of outgoing and incoming Ministry of Labour transactions last year. Outgoing applications handed over to the ministry reached 309,185 whereas 933,323 incoming applications were registered.

Highlighting the importance of the service provided, Salim Obaid Al Shiya, Emirates Post assistant director, said: "Members of the public are saved from standing in long queues at the ministry.

Instead, applications are put into specially designed envelopes and handed over to the public in a hassle-free manner."

According to him, Emirates Post offers two main services - handing over processed applications from the ministry to the public and receiving applications from the public across post offices in the UAE and dispatching them to the ministry.

These are then picked up once they are finished and notices distributed in post boxes for people to come in person and collect their applications.

"Monthly statistics demonstrate the dramatic increase in people using the service through Emirates Post. This move emerges primarily from the easy-to-access post offices across the UAE.

"During 2001, the Second Postal Area (Dubai), received and distributed 143,623 applications.

The First Postal Area (Abu Dhabi and Al Ain) handled 108,282 applications; 34,835 in the Fourth Postal Area (Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah); and 22,445 in the Third Postal Area (Sharjah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain).

The total number of applications delivered by the ministry in 2001 through Emirates Post reached 933,323 across four postal areas: 354,952 in the second area; 291,513 in the first, and 207,397 in the fourth," he said.

Delivering of processed Ministry of Labour applications was first launched by Emirates Post in February 1997.

Receiving applications and handing them over when processed followed in January 1998. About 70 post offices are functioning now in different parts of the UAE to provide these two services.

Through this service, Emirates Post facilitates more than 30 Labour Office applications such as work permit renewals, work permit cancellations, amending work permits and contracts, cancelling and renewing residence visas, sponsorship.